Friday, January 24, 2014

GROW YOUR BLOG 2014 w/Giveway

"Grow Your Blog" last year with Vicki at "2-Bags Full" was such a wonderful event and more than doubled my blogging community with her generous and loving spirit in hosting these events and the Pink Scarf Project; I met fabulous new friends and exchanged lots of ideas from jewelry tips and tricks, classes, photography know how, and book making ideas, to new patterns to knit. My name is Karen and I live in Kenai, Alaska. You can read a bit about me in the sidebar. The biggest life change for me this year was "moving my home," twice. And, literally within the last six months, I have moved to/from Anchorage, making it two full uHaul moments. I have the "packers blues" and a sore sciatic nerve to prove it. The last move was five days ago. I am now at the Kenai Senior Center Housing (Vintage Pointe Manor) and I know that I am going to enjoy it. Below is a photo from one of my favorite places in the complex - I call it the "sunroom" and it is just a few steps from my apartment door. My day began with a cup of tea while waiting for the sun to rise.

iPhone5 capture about 930am this morning!

GIVEAWAY - The "good" news. I will be giving away one of my handmade "journals" to one of you who leaves a comment - not sure yet if it will be a coptic, buttonhole, beaded spine, wrap around, or whatever-type-binding - I haven't unpacked all my books! So, it will be a surprise. Please know that you do not have to be a blogger or have a blog, anyone can enter. If you don't have a blog with your information, please leave a means of communication in your comment.

The "not quite as good" news. Gift delay... Tuesday (three days from now) I leave for a trip to Canada to visit and support my sister while she receives medical treatments in Vancouver, BC. I will do the random drawing on February 15th (in Canada), post the winner and send my gift between March 8-16 upon my return to Alaska. This also means that I will not be at my computer, but I will try to visit as many blogs as possible with my iPad, and finish up if need be when I return home. I appreciate your patience with this longer time frame and delay of gift.

My followers are important to me and I hope that some of you visiting for the first time will consider being "new followers" to my blog. My recent creative efforts have focused on lacebooks, mixed media books, and knitting - I didn't get to take as many photos or make jewelry as I would have liked this year. Hoping this next year will find me doing more in my "studio" (which is the livingroom of my apartment), getting outside with my camera to show you "my Alaska", and blogging more. (PS - check out my Flickr photos...)

51 comments:

Hello Dear KarenI feel just the same and I will await the time when you are settled enough to chat, hopefully before you leave to be with your sister!The past year has been huge for both of us so do take good care of yourself and spend time nurturing yourself before you attempt too much unpacking - Oh that view is divine and only a few steps away from your apartment door!Sending love and hugs for a wonderfully positive year ahead!Suzy

Hi, Karen - follower from last year...I know just how busy you've been this past year. I do hope your sister heals well - glad you get to be with her, at least. Travel safe - the sunrise photo is a beauty! XOXO Tanya

Hi Karen - I've been a follower since the 2013 GYB Party, and I always enjoy catching up with your activities and splendid scenic photography.Your sister will surely be helped by having your company, and I hope both her health issues and your sciatica (ouch!) are soon resolved.

Greetings from Michigan! I clicked on your Mixed Media tab and scrolled through and read your post! I read that article in PAGES! So wonderful to stumble upon you today. I joined your site and am following via email.

I hope you get lots of new followers. I am an old one attracted to you because Alaska seems so far far away from Greece! You will be travelling on my birthday, hope your sis will be very well real soon! I hope your new home will be cosy for you!AriadnefromGreece!

Good Morning Karen, Welcome to the blog party. I am volunteering for Vicki this morning. I have enjoyed reading your blog this morning. I will say a prayer for your sister to have a speedy recovery. I hope you like your new home. Just take your time unpacking. Have fun. Shirley@shirleystitches

Hi Karen! wow... what a year! to move twice! I'm sending prayers for your sister and that your presence will make for a huge healing and speedy recovery for her. It's so wonderful that sisters can be there for each other. Take care! xoxo Chris

Just blog hopping from the party and I was happy to come across your blog. It is always nice to "meet" fellow bloggers. I love the beautiful photo, a lovely view of the sky. Senidn my prayers for your sister, I hope she recovers quickly. Have a happy weekend!

Nice to meet you Karen ... moving twice is huge, what an experience. Best wishes to your sister, it is fabulous that you can be there to support her. I am a huge fan of mixed media so i am happily now following you.

Good Morning Karen, Your post is perfect and what a shot of your beautiful view. I'll see you two weeks today. Can't wait. I'm cutting covers for the Coptic Bound Journal this morning and I'll bring along two completed so we can practice up on our 'stitching' during our first week in Vancouver. XXOO N

I am so sorry your sister is having health problems. I will keep her (and you) in my prayers! I so enjoy your blog and hope that you get lots of new followers. Good luck in your new home in Kenai - one of these days I will visit other parts of the state besides Southeast Alaska and Anchorage!

Hello Karen,Wow, two moves in such a short time! I hope you are now settled where you can enjoy yourself more. Having a living room for art sounds fab! And the sunroom also sounds like a lovely place. I hope you feel right at home. Hugs,Terri

Hi Karen, I find your journals very interesting. As I do journal on paper after reading the word, I would love to win your journal. I'l lift your sister in prayer to night for a quick and complete recovery, and that you can also enjoy the visit. I have a niece that lives is Alaska who is fighting cancer she is not 40 yet. Maybe she lives close. We will talk when you get back home. I am following.

Hi Karen, I didn't realize that I wasn't a follower of your blog until today. We've met through Bonnie's (PAF) before though. Now I'm following and will look forward to your posts. Enjoy your time with your sister.

Your photography is amazingly beautiful. Your flickr pages transported me briefly to places I never would have otherwise seen. I also browsed your mixed media pages. I will be back to visit again. May your travels be safe and my you soon be enjoying the view from your sunroom again. Thank you for sharing on the GYB hop ... :) Pat

your view is just stunning! I have always wanted to visit Alaska, maybe someday I will do so...I will be back again to visit with you...hope you trip with your sister goes well...make sure you rest between all that unpacking you will be doing...your lace book pages are awesome as well...

Karen, so nice to read your blog. I just met your sister earlier this month and am so happy to know her. Wish I could take the class you two are offering in February. Glad that you are coming to be with her and I will be thinking of you, hoping that you can enjoy some time in her fabulous study. pattwilson@shaw.ca

I'm visiting from the Grow Your Blog party. It is nice to meet you. I'm sorry to hear about your sister and will say a prayer for her. I plan to look around a bit more and then be on my way to visit the others. I do hope you will stop by for a visit and enter my giveaway. Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs – Donna

Hey Girlfriend! Wow, you have had a year of it haven't you? I haven't been around much lately so I hope your sister is doing better? Sciatica is no fun, I know! Can you believe it's been a whole year since we met at last years' GYB party? I'll be here when you get settled in and have more time to chat... for now, have a great time with this years' party and I will be back soon...Hugs my dear blogging sister,Beth P

You have some beautiful photographs and some amazing crafting going on! And all those moves - goodness me! I hope that your sister's surgery goes well, and that you are soon able to settle in your new home.

Hi Karen. Glad to meetcha! I have enjoyed what I've read so far and will be following you on your blogging journey when you get back from Canada.I live in Ontario which mu=ight as well be another country considering the distance from B.C. I wish your sister all the best.

I just found you through the party-so glad to meet you-I am Kathy and I live very rural in Missouri. I do lots of creative things with fibers and I am retired. please put me in your wonderful giveaway-I am a new follower. Kathy

Hi KarenJust dropping by on the GYB hop. You have lots on your plate right now. Hope things go as well as possible with your sister and her treatments. Lovely sunrise photo! I'm sure you'll enjoy many lovely sunrises there while sipping your tea!

Hello Karen, I'm waving from rural Scotland ;DI'm a little late visiting from the GYB party but better late than never :DIt sounds like you have a busy time ahead. Your photography is fantastic and that sunrise is stunning. I've taken lots of sunrises and sunsets over the last few years! I love photography. I've also moved house 12 times and our last one was from Australia (over 12,000 miles away!) so I have sympathy with the whole dilemma but your crafty space looks like you'll have lots of fun creating.Good luck to your sister. Enjoy the party!Oops nearly forgot to say I'm your newest follower!

Hello Karen , my name is Dawn your my one stop on the blog party, Hope that I soon will be friends with all of you cyber neighbors. I just say that 600 plus bloggers that sign up to the Party and I am only up to 115 whew a lot of good read and great giveaways. Thanks for this opportunity to join friends with you and be apart of your giveaway. Can't wait to see more of your great projects in the making. My site overboardcreations.blogspot.com

My goodness you have had it tough this year Karen! I do hope your sister recovers soon and you can come home to organise some "normality" into your life. The photo of the sunrise is glorious. And I love the journal you have displayed. Visiting from Australia for the GYB party.PS Never been to Alaska, although I have been to Canada and quite a few states in the US. Its on my "to do" list :-)

As a mixed media artist and perpetual life-long learner, I keep super busy in semi-retirement blending my passions of bookarts, beading and photography.The Alaska Blue Moose was named after my popular acrylic painting and is a place where I enjoy sharing inspiration with friends and family in the blogging community. Your constructive feedback is always welcome. My goal is to share the beauty of Alaska and my continuing artistic endeavors.